New+Zealand

= = = __Basic Facts:__ =
 * __New Zealand:__**

New Zealand is a island country in Asia! The capital of New Zealand is a city named Wellington! But the capital is not the biggest city in the country because Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand! New Zealand actually has three official languages! Those are English, Maori and NZ Sign Language! There are about 4, 2 million people living there. Niu Tireni is New Zealand's maori name. New Zealand's area is about 261 thousand km2. New Zealand became an independent country in 1835. People who live in New Zealand are called Kiwi and / or New Zealander. The currency they use in New Zealand is New Zealand dollars. Elizabeth 2. Is the monarch in New Zealand! She is also the monarch of 15 other countries.

The coat of arms looks like this: = __Ethnic groups:__ = = = English in New Zealand The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. The most distinctive influences on New Zealand English have come from Australian English, British English in Southern England, Irish English, Scottish English, the prestige Received Pronunciation, and the Maori language.

Historical relations to Britain

In 1907 New Zealand became a Dominion within the British Empire, and an independent Commonwealth realm in 1947 when the Statute of Westminster was adopted. Although in practice Britain had long since ceased to play a significant role in governing New Zealand. As the country became more politically independent, it became more dependent economically; in the 1890s, refrigerated shipping allowed the export of meat and dairy products to Britain, a trade which provided the basis for strong economic growth in New Zealand New Zealand was an enthusiastic member of the British Empire, fighting in the Boer War, World War I and World War II, especially in the Battle of Britain, and supporting Britain in the Suez Crisis. Britain's membership of the European Economic Community in 1973 drastically reduced access for New Zealand exporters to their previous largest market. Under British rule, New Zealand had initially been part of the colony of New South Wales but became an independent colony in 1841. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and is titled Queen of New Zealand under the Royal Titles Act 1974. New Zealand retains strong but informal links to Britain today, with many young New Zealanders travelling to Britain for their overseas experience due to favorable working visa arrangements with Britain. Despite New Zealand's immigration liberalization in the 1980s, Britons are still the largest group of migrants to New Zealand. The relationship has been based on complex trading and financial links, warm relations and a detailed understanding of each other and the way we do business.

Famous persons from New Zealand:

Russel Crowe, actor. He plays Robin Hood in the new Robin Hood film. Earlier he's been a part of the cast in other Hollywood films like State of Play, Gladiator and Cinderella Man.

Sam Neill, actor. Born in Ireland in 1947, but moved from Ireland to New Zealand in 1954. He has played roles as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III. He has also taken part in a film called Daybreakers.

Alan Graham MacDiarmid, chemist. Alan won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in year 2000. He shared the prize with two other men for their research, the discovery and development of conductive polymers.



Ernest Rutherford, chemist: Famous for his work splitting the atom. He won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1908.

The Beehive Building:



The Beehive Building is the Parlament Building in New Zealand. The building is located in Wellington.

Auckland Harbour Bridge:

The over 1000 metres long bridge is very popular among tourists because of the view at night.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000128/ http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Neill http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Rutherford http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_MacDiarmid